If you are hoping to start Donte Moncrief on Monday night, things got a little more complicated today. For most of the week, it’s looked certain that Moncrief would start and be the top receiver for Indianapolis (given how iffy Andre Johnson looked last week). But T.Y. Hilton practiced some on Saturday, and there’s a chance he will play. They’re calling him questionable.
It’s not guaranteed that Hilton will play, but it’s possible. And that reduces the value of Moncrief.
There’s also the possibility that Hilton will play but will play a lesser role or be used as more of a decoy. That’s the way it played out in Week 17 last year against the Titans. Hilton had a hamstring injury, played, but didn’t catch any passes. If the Jets think that Hilton is healthy, they’ll no doubt put Darrelle Revis on him (so the Colts might be figuring that if they put Hilton on the field, it will make it easier to get Moncrief open).
Whatever. We think Moncrief is the best Colts receiver this week, but we’re not crazy about using him in a fantasy lineup.
There are other notable injuries in this game.
For the Jets, Chris Ivory (groin) and Antonio Cromartie (knee) are both questionable. Ivory was limited in practice all week, but our leaning is that he’ll be out there on Monday night and that he’ll play at his usual kind of level. With the way Cromartie went down against the Browns, he looks more likely to sit out.
On the Colts side, they’ve got injuries on defense. Gregory Toler and Darius Butler (their best two corners after Vontae Davis) are both out. That makes it more likely that Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker will have some success. Especially Decker (since Davis should follow Marshall around the field).
Linebackers Robert Mathis (Achilles) and Jonathan Newsome (hamstring) are both questionable.
The complete listings, as released by the teams …
NEW YORK JETS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
NEW YORK
Status Report
OUT
LB Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion), QB Geno Smith (jaw)
DOUBTFUL
CB Darrin Walls (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE
CB Antonio Cromartie (knee), RB Chris Ivory (groin)
PROBABLE
DE Stephen Bowen (knee), G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), T Breno Giacomini (biceps), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), T Brent Qvale (finger), LB Trevor Reilly (finger), WR Devin Smith (ribs)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
CB Antonio Cromartie (knee), LB Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion), CB Darrin Walls (hamstring)
Friday
LB Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion), CB Darrin Walls (hamstring)
Saturday
LB Lorenzo Mauldin (concussion), CB Darrin Walls (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), RB Chris Ivory (groin), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), QB Geno Smith (jaw)
Friday
G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), CB Antonio Cromartie (knee), RB Chris Ivory (groin), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), QB Geno Smith (jaw)
Saturday
G James Carpenter (back), G Willie Colon (knee), CB Antonio Cromartie (knee), RB Chris Ivory (groin), S Jaiquawn Jarrett (shoulder), QB Geno Smith (jaw)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
DE Stephen Bowen (knee), T Brent Qvale (finger), WR Devin Smith (ribs)
Friday
DE Stephen Bowen (knee), T Brent Qvale (finger), WR Devin Smith (ribs)
Saturday
DE Stephen Bowen (knee), T Breno Giacomini (biceps), T Brent Qvale (finger), LB Trevor Reilly (finger), WR Devin Smith (ribs)
INDIANAPOLIS
Status Report
OUT
CB Darius Butler (hip), CB Gregory Toler (neck)
QUESTIONABLE
WR T.Y. Hilton (knee), LB Robert Mathis (achilles), LB Jonathan Newsome (hamstring)
PROBABLE
G Todd Herremans (shoulder), LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe), LB Bjoern Werner (knee)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday
CB Darius Butler (hip), WR T.Y. Hilton (knee), CB D'Joun Smith (knee), CB Gregory Toler (neck)
Friday
CB Darius Butler (hip), WR T.Y. Hilton (knee), CB D'Joun Smith (knee), CB Gregory Toler (neck)
Saturday
CB Darius Butler (hip), LB Jonathan Newsome (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday
G Todd Herremans (shoulder), LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe), LB Robert Mathis (achilles)
Friday
LB Robert Mathis (achilles), LB Bjoern Werner (knee)
Saturday
WR T.Y. Hilton (knee), LB Robert Mathis (achilles), CB Gregory Toler (neck)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday
G Todd Herremans (shoulder), LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe)
Saturday
G Todd Herremans (shoulder), LB D'Qwell Jackson (toe), LB Bjoern Werner (knee)
—Ian Allan
